Hi, my name is Anita Rzewski! I just finished my third year at the University of Pittsburgh where I major in Marketing at the College of Business Administration. I also minor in French and am pursuing a certificate in Digital Media. I grew up in in Point Breeze, a neighborhood only a 15 minute drive from campus.

Growing up, I have always gravitated towards fashion as a means of expressing myself. It was in high school that I realized working in the fashion industry actually was a realistic goal for myself. I chose to major in Marketing since it was a broad major that I could apply to anything, and one in which I could use both my creative and analytical skills to be successful. At the end of my sophomore year, I decided to add on a certificate in Digital Media because I was craving more classes where I could utilize my creativity. Most of my family lives in Europe where they either speak French or Italian (or both!) so, it has always been a goal of mine to reach fluency in French. I’m super excited to continue my study abroad journey this fall in Marseille, France. First, however, I am stoked to see what Plus3 Ireland has in store for me.

I originally was supposed to attend Plus3 Italy at the end of my freshman year, but then, of course, COVID happened. When I got the email that Plus3 Ireland was happening, I immediately started the application. Personally, if the pandemic taught me anything, it is to take every opportunity you can to travel and explore new places because you never know when that privilege will be taken away. Being away from home in unfamiliar land will give me an opportunity to grow and become more independent before I study abroad for a whole semester in the fall. Additionally, I am eager to learn more about Irish working culture and am interested to see how it differs from the United States. Immersing myself in a new culture will challenge me to become more adaptable as I will have to adjust to a culture with different cultural norms. Nonetheless, I’m sure I’ll be able to expand my perspective and bring what I learn back to the US with me.